Imaging system for vehicle

An imaging system of a vehicle, said imaging system comprising;

• an imaging device operable to capture images of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle;
• a holding device for movably holding said imaging device, said holding device comprising a housing, a transparent panel and a panel cleaning device, said housing being movably mountable at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said imaging device being positioned within said housing, said transparent panel being positioned at least partially across an opening of said housing and generally in the field of view of said imaging device, said housing being movable relative to the exterior portion of the vehicle to move said imaging device between a stored position, where said imaging device is positioned generally within the portion of the vehicle, and an operational position, where said imaging device is positioned to have a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle, said panel cleaning device being positionable at the exterior portion of the vehicle and configured to engage an exterior surface of said transparent panel to clean said transparent panel as said housing moves said imaging device between said stored position and said operational position;
• a control operable to process images captured by said imaging device;
• and
• wherein said housing is movable to selectively position said imaging device in first and second operational positions, and wherein said control is operable to selectively move said housing to position said imaging device at said first operational position in response to the vehicle making an initial approach to a target zone and to position said imaging device at said second operational position in response to the vehicle moving further into the target zone, said imaging device being directed more downward when in said second operational position relative to said first operational position.

An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

• a camera module configured for mounting at a vehicle as a unit;
• wherein said camera module comprises a plastic housing;
• wherein said plastic housing comprises a first molded plastic housing portion and a second molded plastic housing portion, and wherein said first and second housing portions comprise respective first and second mating portions;
• wherein said mating portions of said first and second housing portions are laser welded together forming a hermetic seal therebetween in order to substantially preclude water intrusion into said plastic housing therethrough;
• and
• wherein said plastic housing accommodates a pixelated imaging array therein.

An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

• a camera module configured for mounting at a vehicle as a unit;
• wherein said camera module comprises a plastic housing;
• wherein said plastic housing comprises a first molded plastic housing portion and a second molded plastic housing portion, and wherein said first and second housing portions comprise respective first and second mating portions;
• wherein said mating portions of said first and second housing portions are laser welded together forming a hermetic seal therebetween in order to substantially preclude water intrusion into said plastic housing therethrough;
• wherein said plastic housing accommodates a pixelated imaging array therein;
• wherein said first housing portion comprises a generally cylindrical portion that at least partially accommodates a lens system;
• and
• wherein said second housing portion comprises an electrical connector suitable for electrically conductive connection to a vehicle electrical connector when said camera module is positioned at the vehicle.